Tisha B’Av Grooming: What You Can and Cannot Do During the Fast

If you want to master tisha bav grooming, this guide covers everything you need to know. Last updated: February 2026 by Avi Feldman, Grooming Columnist

There is a moment every summer, usually somewhere around the 17th of Tammuz, when the realization hits: the Three Weeks are starting, and for the next three weeks (culminating in the Nine Days and Tisha B’Av itself), your grooming routine is about to get complicated. For men who maintain a beard, keep a specific hairstyle, or simply like to look put together for work, the halachic restrictions of this period create a genuine daily challenge. How do you honor the mourning practices while still showing up to the office looking professional? How do you maintain your beard when you cannot trim it? And what exactly can and cannot you do during the Nine Days when bathing restrictions kick in?

I have navigated this period for over two decades, including years when Tisha B’Av fell during the middle of important work projects where showing up looking disheveled was not really an option. This guide breaks down the grooming restrictions period by period, gives you the practical workarounds that halacha permits, and helps you maintain basic grooming standards even in the midst of mourning the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple). For expert guidance on this topic, consult Chabad’s overview of Jewish grooming laws and traditions.

Religious Note: Jewish grooming law (halacha) varies by community, tradition, and scholarly opinion. Always consult with your rabbi or posek (halachic authority) to confirm that any grooming practices described here are appropriate for your level of observance and family tradition.

The Three Periods: An Overview : Tisha Bav Grooming

The mourning period leading up to Tisha B’Av is divided into three progressively restrictive phases. Understanding the structure helps you plan your grooming approach.

The Three Weeks (17 Tammuz to 9 Av)

This is the broadest period, running from the fast of the 17th of Tammuz through Tisha B’Av. The primary grooming restriction during the Three Weeks (according to Ashkenazi practice) is on haircutting. This includes haircuts, beard trimming, and any removal of body hair done for aesthetic purposes. Bathing and regular hygiene are unrestricted during this period.

Sephardic practice note: Many Sephardic communities only begin mourning restrictions from the week in which Tisha B’Av falls (Shavua Shechal Bo), not from the 17th of Tammuz. This means Sephardic men may have haircutting permitted for a longer portion of the summer. Always follow your community’s minhag.

The Nine Days (1 Av to 9 Av)

Beginning on Rosh Chodesh Av, additional restrictions take effect. The most significant for grooming purposes is the limitation on bathing for pleasure. This does not mean you cannot bathe at all (we will get into the specifics below), but it does mean your shower routine needs to be adjusted.

Laundry restrictions also begin, which indirectly affects grooming because you cannot wear freshly laundered clothing. The practical workaround (wearing each garment briefly before the Nine Days to make it “not fresh”) is well-known, but it still means you may be wearing slightly less crisp clothing during this period.

Tisha B’Av Itself

The most restrictive day. Washing of any kind for pleasure is prohibited. You may wash your hands for halachic purposes (upon waking, after using the restroom, before eating after the fast) but only the fingers, not the full hand in most practices. No anointing with oils or lotions. No leather shoes. No deodorant according to strict opinions (though many poskim permit non-pleasurable deodorant to avoid causing discomfort to others).

Haircutting Restrictions in Detail

The prohibition on haircutting during the Three Weeks is the grooming restriction that affects daily appearance the most. Let us break down exactly what is included and what strategies you can use.

What Is Prohibited

• Head haircuts: Prohibited throughout the Three Weeks (Ashkenazi). This includes trims, fades, and any shortening of head hair.
• Beard trimming: Prohibited. You cannot trim, shape, or shorten your beard. This is the major challenge for men who maintain a groomed beard.
• Shaving (for those who shave): The majority of Ashkenazi poskim prohibit shaving during the Three Weeks. Some authorities permit it for those who shave daily for work or professional necessity, but this is a minority leniency. Consult your rav.
• Mustache trimming: Some poskim permit trimming a mustache that interferes with eating, even during the Three Weeks. This is not universal; ask your rav.
• Peyot trimming: Prohibited, same as all haircutting.

What Is Permitted

• Beard washing and combing: Fully permitted throughout all three periods. You should maintain your beard hygiene even as you cannot trim.
• Applying beard oil and balm: Permitted during the Three Weeks and the Nine Days. On Tisha B’Av itself, anointing restrictions apply (see below).
• Hair washing: Permitted during the Three Weeks and debated during the Nine Days (discussed below).
• Nail cutting: Permitted during the Three Weeks. During the Nine Days, Ashkenazi practice prohibits it except for a mitzvah purpose (e.g., before Shabbat in the Nine Days, or for a woman going to mikvah).

Pre-Three Weeks Strategy

The smartest move is to get a haircut and beard trim as close to the 17th of Tammuz as possible. This gives you the freshest starting point for the three-week period of growth. If the 17th falls on a weekday, go in the morning before the fast begins (the fast starts at dawn). If it falls on Shabbos and is pushed to Sunday, get your cut on Friday before Shabbos. Mastering tisha bav grooming takes practice but delivers great results.

When getting your pre-Three Weeks trim, follow the same strategy as before Sefirat HaOmer: go slightly shorter than usual on the haircut to give yourself more runway, and shape the beard cleanly so it grows out neatly. Our Pesach grooming guide covers the same preparation logic for the Omer, and the principles apply here too.

Beard Care During the Three Weeks

Your beard is going to grow for three weeks without any trimming. For men who normally trim weekly, this means a significant change in appearance. The goal is to keep the beard looking intentional rather than neglected, even as it grows past your usual length.

Daily Beard Routine (Three Weeks)

1. Wash daily: Use a beard wash every morning. A clean beard always looks more intentional than a dirty one, regardless of length.
2. Condition: Apply conditioner in the shower, let it sit for 1-2 minutes, rinse. This keeps the beard soft and prevents the wiry, unkempt look that comes with dry, untreated growth.
3. Oil: Apply 3-5 drops of beard oil to damp beard after washing. Work it through with your fingers, then comb.
4. Comb thoroughly: Use a quality beard comb to comb the beard into shape. Even without trimming, a well-combed beard looks dramatically better than one left to its own devices.
5. Balm for control: Apply a small amount of beard balm to control fly-aways and give the beard a groomed appearance. Balm provides enough hold to keep stray hairs in line without looking product-heavy.

This daily routine takes about five minutes and makes the difference between “that man is growing his beard for a reason” and “that man forgot his beard exists.”

Managing the Growth

As the Three Weeks progress, your beard will enter unfamiliar length territory if you normally keep it short. Here is what to expect week by week:

Week 1 (17-24 Tammuz): Beard looks slightly fuller than usual. Most people will not notice. Keep combing daily and the beard will maintain its shape reasonably well.

Week 2 (24 Tammuz to 1 Av): The beard is clearly longer than your norm. This is the “itchy phase” if you normally keep it shorter. Beard butter helps soothe the skin underneath. The neckline may start looking shaggy; you cannot trim it, but keeping the area clean and moisturized prevents irritation.

Week 3 (1-9 Av): Full growth is evident. The beard has its own character now. Continue the daily routine religiously (pun intended). Combing becomes even more important as the length increases and tangles become more likely. Some men find that their beard actually looks better at this length, and the Three Weeks become the catalyst for growing it out longer permanently.

Bathing During the Nine Days

This is where the grooming restrictions become most challenging for daily life. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 551:16) prohibits bathing for pleasure during the Nine Days. But what counts as “pleasure” versus “necessity” is where the practical questions arise.

What Most Poskim Permit

• Cold or lukewarm showers for hygiene: If you are sweating (and in summer, you are), most authorities permit a quick cool shower to remove sweat and odor. The key is that it should be for cleanliness, not relaxation. Get in, clean up, get out.
• Washing face and hands: Permitted without restriction. This is basic hygiene, not bathing for pleasure.
• Washing hair for cleanliness: Most authorities permit washing hair if it is genuinely dirty or oily, particularly for men who work in environments where hygiene is important.
• Washing before Shabbos: The Shabbos that falls during the Nine Days (Shabbos Chazon) is still Shabbos. Most Ashkenazi poskim permit bathing in honor of Shabbos with hot water, at least the body parts that are usually washed. Some permit a full hot shower. Follow your community’s practice.

What Is Generally Restricted

• Hot showers for relaxation: A long, hot shower taken for the pleasure of it is not appropriate during the Nine Days.
• Baths: Soaking in a bath is considered bathing for pleasure and is generally prohibited.
• Swimming: Prohibited, as it is done for pleasure.

Practical Shower Strategy for the Nine Days

Keep the water cool or lukewarm. Limit the shower to what is necessary for cleanliness. Wash your hair and beard as needed. Apply soap to areas that need it. Rinse and exit. This is not the time for a 20-minute steam session, but it is also not a requirement to be unpleasant to sit near. The Talmud teaches that Torah scholars must be clean and presentable; the mourning restrictions are not meant to override basic kavod habriyos (human dignity).

For beard care during the Nine Days specifically: washing the beard with cool water and beard wash is fine. Applying beard oil after washing is also permitted by most opinions, since it is for maintenance rather than luxury. The goal is to keep the beard clean and manageable.

Tisha B’Av Day Grooming

Tisha B’Av is the most restrictive day of the mourning period. Five categories of physical pleasure are prohibited, and several of them directly impact grooming.

Washing Restrictions

On Tisha B’Av, washing for pleasure is prohibited. The permitted exceptions are specific and limited:

• Negel vasser (morning hand washing): Wash each hand three times, but only up to the knuckles (some say the fingers), not the full hand. This is a halachic requirement upon waking.
• After using the restroom: Wash hands up to the knuckles for cleanliness.
• Washing dirt from eyes or face: If you wake with crusty eyes or visible dirt on your face, you may wash that specific area.
• Before davening: Wash fingers for netilas yadayim (ritual hand washing).

Practically, this means no shower, no face washing beyond removing dirt, and no washing your beard on Tisha B’Av. One day of skipping will not cause lasting damage if you have been maintaining your beard properly throughout the preceding weeks. Understanding tisha bav grooming is key to a great grooming routine.

Anointing Restrictions

The prohibition on anointing (sicha) means no beard oil, no beard balm, no moisturizer, no cologne, and no lotion on Tisha B’Av. This is one of the five prohibited pleasures of the day.

Exception: Most poskim permit using deodorant on Tisha B’Av because its purpose is to prevent discomfort to others, not to provide pleasure to yourself. A non-scented, basic deodorant is the safest choice. Spray deodorant is sometimes preferred over roll-on or cream because it involves less “anointing” sensation.

Medicinal exception: If you use medicated lotions or creams for a skin condition (eczema, psoriasis, etc.), these are generally permitted on Tisha B’Av as medical necessity, not pleasure. Consult your rav if this applies to you. For more on Jewish men’s skincare challenges, see our skincare routine guide.

Looking Presentable on Tisha B’Av

If you need to go to work on Tisha B’Av (which falls during the workweek in many years), here is how to look acceptable without violating the restrictions:

• Beard: Comb it thoroughly. Combing is not washing or anointing. A well-combed beard looks significantly better than an uncombed one, even without product.
• Hair: Style with your hands (comb through with fingers) or a dry comb. No styling products.
• Face: If you have visible dirt or eye crust, you may wash that specific spot. Otherwise, use a dry tissue to blot any oiliness.
• Clothing: Pre-worn clothing (prepared before the Nine Days) that is clean but not freshly laundered.
• Shoes: Non-leather shoes are required on Tisha B’Av. Canvas, rubber, or synthetic shoes that look presentable with work clothes are worth investing in before the season.

Shabbos Chazon: The Shabbos Before Tisha B’Av

Shabbos Chazon (the Shabbos before Tisha B’Av) falls during the Nine Days, which creates an interesting tension: the mourning customs of the Nine Days meet the honor we are required to give Shabbos.

Most Ashkenazi poskim permit bathing in honor of Shabbos, though opinions vary on the scope. Some permit only face, hands, and feet with hot water; others permit a full body wash. Sephardic practice generally permits full bathing for Shabbos even during the Nine Days.

For grooming purposes, this means your erev Shabbos routine should be mostly normal. Shower (following your rav’s guidelines), wash and condition your beard, apply oil and balm, and prepare for Shabbos as you would any other week. This is your grooming reset during the Nine Days, so make the most of it. See our pre-Shabbat grooming routine for the full protocol.

Post-Tisha B’Av: Getting Back to Normal

The mourning restrictions do not end immediately at the conclusion of the Tisha B’Av fast. Most Ashkenazi communities maintain haircutting restrictions until midday (chatzos) on the 10th of Av. This is because the Beis HaMikdash continued burning through the 10th of Av.

However, bathing, anointing, and wearing freshly laundered clothing are permitted from the night of the 10th (i.e., immediately after the fast ends). Your first steps after the fast should include:

1. Break the fast with food and drink.
2. Take a full, comfortable shower (you have earned it).
3. Give your beard a thorough wash with beard wash and conditioner.
4. Apply a generous amount of beard oil to replenish three weeks of accumulation.
5. Apply beard butter for deep conditioning overnight.
6. Schedule a haircut and beard trim for the next day (after chatzos if your minhag is to wait until midday on the 10th).

When Tisha B’Av falls on Thursday: The fast ends Thursday night, and most poskim permit haircutting from Friday morning (some say immediately after the fast) in honor of Shabbos. This is a leniency because preparing for Shabbos takes precedence. Get your trim on Friday morning and go into Shabbos looking refreshed.

When Tisha B’Av is nidcheh (postponed from Shabbos to Sunday): In years when the 9th of Av falls on Shabbos, the fast is observed on Sunday. In these cases, the mourning restrictions are generally lifted immediately after the fast ends Sunday night, and some are even lighter throughout. Consult your rav for the specifics of the year.

Skin Care Considerations

The Nine Days fall in the summer, which means heat, sweat, and sun exposure are all at their peak. Combined with the bathing restrictions, skin health can suffer if you do not take some proactive steps.

Sunscreen

Most poskim permit applying sunscreen during the Nine Days because it is protective rather than pleasurable. On Tisha B’Av itself, opinions vary. Some permit sunscreen as medical protection (preventing sunburn, which is harmful); others consider it anointing. If you will be outdoors on Tisha B’Av, consult your rav. A hat and long sleeves are a non-controversial alternative. When it comes to tisha bav grooming, technique matters most.

Sweating and Skin Irritation

Summer heat plus reduced bathing can lead to skin irritation, particularly under the beard and in areas where clothing creates friction. A quick cool-water rinse of affected areas is permitted by most authorities during the Nine Days. Keeping a small towel handy to blot sweat from the face and neck also helps prevent breakouts and rashes.

Post-Nine Days Skin Recovery

After the Nine Days end, give your skin some extra attention. Apply a good moisturizer, exfoliate gently (your skin has accumulated dead cells during the reduced washing period), and do a thorough face wash. Your regular skincare routine may need an extra pass for the first day or two until your skin normalizes.

Professional Considerations

For Jewish men who work in professional settings, the Three Weeks and Nine Days create a genuine tension between religious observance and workplace appearance standards. Here are strategies that help:

• Frame it proactively: If colleagues might notice your beard growth, a brief mention that you are observing a religious mourning period is usually well-received. Most workplaces accommodate religious practices.
• Maximize what is permitted: Washing, combing, oiling, and balming your beard daily ensures it looks intentional even at an unusual length.
• Invest in the right tools: A good beard comb and quality products make an ungroomed beard look dramatically more presentable.
• Clothing matters more: When your beard and hair are less polished, compensate with sharp clothing. A well-fitted shirt and clean shoes draw attention away from three-week beard growth.
• Plan meetings strategically: If possible, schedule important client meetings or presentations for before the Three Weeks or after. Not always possible, but worth considering when you have the choice.

FAQ

Can I use dry shampoo during the Nine Days?

Most poskim would permit dry shampoo during the Nine Days since it does not involve washing with water and its purpose is cleanliness rather than pleasure. It is a practical solution for managing oily hair during the bathing restrictions. On Tisha B’Av itself, dry shampoo might fall under the anointing prohibition depending on its formulation; a spray formula is less questionable than one that requires rubbing into the scalp.

Can I go to the mikvah during the Nine Days?

Men who have a minhag to go to the mikvah regularly (daily or before Shabbos) can generally continue during the Nine Days, as the mikvah is a mitzvah immersion rather than bathing for pleasure. However, many men limit the pre-immersion shower to cold water during the Nine Days. On Tisha B’Av itself, mikvah immersion is generally not done (except for specific circumstances like a woman’s mikvah night). Follow your community’s practice.

What about shaving for a job interview during the Three Weeks?

This is a question that comes up frequently and requires a psak (ruling) from your rav. Some poskim permit shaving for genuine financial need (potential significant financial loss if one appears unkempt at a job interview), while others do not extend this leniency to the Three Weeks. Present the specific situation to your rav and follow his guidance.

Are there differences between Ashkenazi and Sephardic practice?

Yes, significant ones. Sephardic communities generally observe haircutting restrictions only during the week of Tisha B’Av (Shavua Shechal Bo), not the full Three Weeks. Bathing restrictions are also more lenient in many Sephardic communities. The Shulchan Aruch (written by the Sephardic authority Rabbi Yosef Karo) and the Rema (Ashkenazi glosses) diverge on several points in this area. Our Sephardic grooming traditions guide covers these differences in detail.

What if Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbos?

When the 9th of Av falls on Shabbos, the fast is pushed to Sunday (nidcheh). On that Shabbos, there are no public mourning practices. You eat, drink, and groom for Shabbos as usual. Some restrictions are lighter for a nidcheh Tisha B’Av; for example, some poskim are more lenient about bathing after the fast ends Sunday night. The specific year’s calendar and your rav’s guidance determine the details.

Final Thoughts

The mourning practices of the Three Weeks, Nine Days, and Tisha B’Av are not designed to make us miserable. They are designed to help us connect with the national tragedy of the Beis HaMikdash’s destruction and the exile that followed. Grooming restrictions are one dimension of that mourning, and navigating them with both halachic seriousness and practical wisdom is the balance every observant man seeks.

The key insight I have gained over years of practice is that preparation is everything. Get your pre-Three Weeks trim, stock up on beard maintenance products, plan your Nine Days wardrobe, and have a post-fast grooming plan ready. When you approach the period with a system, the restrictions feel manageable rather than overwhelming.

For related grooming guidance during restricted periods, see our Sefirat HaOmer beard care guide, mourning grooming guide, beard care essentials, and pre-Shabbat grooming routine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main grooming restrictions during the Three Weeks leading up to Tisha B’Av?

During the Three Weeks (17 Tammuz to 9 Av), you cannot cut your hair or trim your beard, and these restrictions become even stricter during the Nine Days when bathing limitations also apply. The severity increases as you approach Tisha B’Av itself, which is a full fast day with additional grooming prohibitions.

Can I shower or bathe during the Nine Days of Tisha B’Av?

During the Nine Days (1 Av to 9 Av), you can take brief, cool showers for cleanliness purposes, but you cannot bathe for pleasure or use hot water. On Tisha B’Av itself, bathing is completely prohibited as part of the mourning observance.

How do I maintain my beard and look professional at work during Tisha B’Av grooming restrictions?

The article provides practical workarounds within halacha, such as careful combing and styling of your existing beard without cutting or trimming it, to help you maintain a professional appearance at the office. You can also consult with your rabbi or posek for community-specific guidance on what grooming maintenance is permitted for your level of observance.

Do grooming restrictions apply the same way for all Jewish communities during Tisha B’Av?

No, Jewish grooming law (halacha) varies by community, tradition, and scholarly opinion, so you should consult with your rabbi or posek to confirm which practices are appropriate for your specific level of observance and family tradition. What is permitted in one community may differ from another based on their interpretation of Jewish law.